Birding and other distractions

Having had no luck in Achladeri forest with Kruper's Nuthatch we tried a different area today. It actually involved two sites, with success at each one as it turned out, both watched from a respectable distance to avoid disturbance to the birds. We jammed in on the first site seeing birders watching from the side of the road. A nest was in the top of a tall dead tree, with parent birds visiting about every five minutes, no doubt to feed the young. The birds were watched through the 'scope, no pictures being taken. The second site was about 0.5 km away, and proved harder to find. However, it was a similar situation, the nest being at the top of a dead tree, albeit a thinner one. The call of the bird first attracted attention, then an adult was seen. The bird did not visit as often as the first pair did, so maybe a less advanced nest in terms of development of young, or perhaps the female was still incubating. Masked Shrikes were also seen at both sites, plus two Red-rumped Swall...

The day gradually warmed up after significant overnight rain. At nearby Kalloni marsh a Savi's Warbler briefly reeled from the reedbed but was not seen. A Little Bittern was present though views were somewhat poor. Another visit to Alykes Wetland provided generally similar birds to the previous day, with the addition of a male Garganey, while Glossy Ibis were closer. At Molivos reservoir we couldn't find Great-spotted Cuckoo but did see a Hoopoe, Orphean Warbler, two E Subalpine Warbler, Red-backed and Woodchat Shrikes. Along the road back to Molivos we stopped to admire a Lesser Grey and female Red-backed Shrike. In late afternoon a Long-eared Owl and two owlets were present at a local site, then a second visit to Kalloni pool yielded a juvenile Purple Heron, a pair of Garganey, and brief views of a Little Crake. Glossy Ibis at Alykes wetland Squacco Heron  Purple Heron  Garganey  Purple Heron  E Subalpine Warbler  Orphean Warbler  Female Red-backed Shrike...

We started the day at Aegian flats and adjacent marsh. Birds of note included a Stone Curlew and two Ruddy Shelduck, plus two rather distant Spur-winged Plover from the bandstand. It was hard work in Achladeri forest with no sign of Kruper's Nuthatch. However, Short-toed Treecreeper were fairly easy to find, and there was a female Pied Flycatcher plus a group of Alpine Swift flew over. At Metochi Lake we saw both male and female Little Crake, a Squacco Heron, and a good number of Bee-eaters. Kalloni Saltpans had a White-winged Black Tern, two Little Tern, nine Slender-billed Gulls, a Little Gull, Marsh Sandpiper and c100 Ruff. The number of birds on Alykes Wetland was extraordinary, with up to 2000 Swallow in particular. Two Short-toed Eagle, a ring-tail harrier, eight Black Stork, a Spoonbill, Gull-billed Tern, Purple Heron, four Squacco Heron and numerous Glossy Ibis added to the spectacle. Bee-eater  Female Little Crake  Male Little Crake  Black Stork Gull-billed Tern...